1. Today, we will comprehend1 plots of legends.
Learning Objective Name ___________________________
Today, we will comprehend1 plots of legends.
1 understand
CFU
What are we going to do today?
What are we going to comprehend?
What does comprehend mean?
Activate (or provide) Prior Knowledge
How many of you have heard of Robin Hood?
He is a famous character from books and movies. Robin Hood is known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
CFU
Students, the reason you may have heard of Robin Hood before is because Robin Hood is a legend; a story about a famous person that has been told over and over. We are going to read more stories or legends similar to Robin Hood. Today, we will comprehend the plot of legends.
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2. Examples: Pecos Bill, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed.
Concept Development
A legend is a folktale2 about an extraordinary3 person who is seen as a hero.
• A legend may be based on a real person or written about an imaginary character.
Examples: Pecos Bill, John Henry, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed.
• The hero is talented in some way, or may even have superhuman4 strength.
• A legend may contain details that are exaggerated5 or make-believe.
2 imaginary stories that are passed down
3 amazing, not common
4 much greater than regular human abilities
5 describe something as bigger or better than it actually is
The plot refers to the main events of a story.
• The main events of a legend tell why the hero is legendary.
Plots of legends have:
Example – Pecos Bill
an introduction that describes
the hero.
exaggerated or make believe
details.
Pecos Bill was a Western hero. He was, in fact, the most
famous man in the country. Bill invented roping. Bill used
to rope everything around. He’d lasso6 the eagles in the sky.
He pulled them right down to the ground.
6 catch an animal with a rope
a description of a challenge
the hero faces.
how the hero uses their talent
to overcome their challenge.
One day, Pecos Bill made a bet. He said he could ride a cyclone. He
lassoed it over Kansas. It was a stubborn7 cyclone, and it gave
Pecos Bill a fight. But nothin’ was too much for Pecos Bill to
handle. He grabbed that cyclone, pushed it to the ground, and
jumped on its back.
7 difficult to deal with
a reason why the hero is a
legend.
Finally, that cyclone decided it wasn't getting this cowboy off its back. It gave up and just turned into rain. That’s why Pecos Bill was the finest roper in the West.
CFU In your own words, what is the plot? The plot is ____________________.
In your own words, what is a legend? A legend is _________________________.
Name one part of the plot of a legend. Which of the following would the legend of a plot have? Explain your answer.
a. an evil witch b. person with incredible strength
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3. 1. learn about famous characters in literature.
Importance
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
It is important to comprehend plots of legends because it will help you:
1. learn about famous characters in literature.
2. be familiar with stories that have been passed down through generations.
Johnny Appleseed
An American Legend
John Chapman knew everything about fruit trees. Each day, he saw pioneers8 heading west.
John felt sorry for them. He knew they’d see hard times. John would give them apple seeds so
they could plant apple trees wherever they went. John traveled all over the country. People thought
he was a strange sight. He wore no shoes and he carried his cooking pot by wearing it on his head! He planted seeds and gave people baby trees. His name had become Johnny Appleseed. Some people say they still see his ghost walking through the apple orchards of Indiana and Ohio words
8 persons who explore a new area
Image courtesy of:
3. do well on the CST.
There are currently no CST-released questions addressing plots of legends.
CFU
Does anyone else have another reason why it is important to comprehend the plot of legends? (pair-share) Why is it important to comprehend the plot of legends? You may give me one of my reasons or one of your own. Which reason is the most important to you? Why?
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4. Comprehend plots of legends.
Skill Development/Guided Practice
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
A.B. Stormalong
1. A.B. Stormalong stood thirty feet tall! 2. He worked as a sailor. 3. His captain was glad to have such
a giant man on board. 4. Old Stormalong’s size and strength helped him while sailing at sea. 5. He was so tall,
he didn’t have to climb to set the sails1. 6. Old Stormy would just reach up high and do it. 7. One time, the
crew couldn’t get the ship moving. 8. Old Stormy jumped overboard to take a look. 9. The crew saw a huge
octopus tentacle underneath the water. 10. Stormy was wrestlin’ the octopus! 11. No man could fight such
a thing! 12. Suddenly, Old Stormy climbed back on board. 13. He wasn’t even hurt! 14. He said, “That old
octopus had one hundred arms! 15. Fifty of them were trying to hold the boat down and fifty of them were trying to hold me down. 16. I fixed him, though. 17. I tied every one of those arms in a double knot!” 18. Everyone cheered.
1 cloth fixed to a boat so the wind can push it along words
Image courtesy of:
1. What challenge did A.B.
Stormalong face?
a. He had to get the boat moving
with no wind.
b. He had to free the boat from an
octopus.
c. He had to untie the boat that
was anchored to the sea floor.
2. How did A.B. overcome his
challenge?
a. He used his strength to tie the
octopus’ arms in knots.
b. He used his height to set the
sails.
c. He blew wind in its sails.
3. Why is A.B. Stormalong a legend?
a. A.B. Stormalong was a great sailor
because of his size and strength.
b. A.B. Strormalong sailed across
many seas.
c. A.B. Stormalong jumped overboard
into the water.
CFU How did I know what to underline? How did I know what to look for? How did I find the answer? How did I know my answer was correct? How did you know what to underline? How did you know what to look for? How did you find the answer? How did you know your answer was correct?
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5. Comprehend plots of legends.
Skill Development/Guided Practice (continued)
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
John Henry
1. The night John Henry was born, the whole earth shook. 2. He was a very big baby, weighing in at 44 pounds!
3. John Henry grew up so big and strong that he wanted to work on the railroad. 4. He got a job with the Railroad in the year 1870 when steam drills1 had just been invented. 5. These drills, powered by steam, could do the work men had done before One day, a salesman came to town selling the steam drill. 7. John Henry’s friends said he could do a faster, better job than any steam drill. 8. They decided to hold a contest: John Henry against the steam drill. 9. John Henry drilled by using his hammer to pound a spike2 for seven hours straight! 10. The captain determined that John Henry had
drilled a hole 14-feet. 11. The steam drill only drilled 10-feet. 12. John Henry won! 13. Man had beat a machine
for the first time in history! 14. He was a great hero, but had worked too hard to win. 15. The next day he died
from exhaustion Many folks claim they can still hear his hammer ringing away in the mountain canyons.
1 mechanical drill powered by steam pointed piece of metal extreme tiredness words Image courtesy of:
1. What challenge did John Henry
face?
a. He had to drill faster than the
steam drill.
b. He had to drill a hole through a
mountain.
c. He had to drill a hole nine feet
deep.
2. How did John Henry overcome
his challenge?
a. He used his strength and speed
to drill faster than the steam drill.
b. He used the powerful steam drill
to drill a hole 14-feet deep.
c. He used his size to scare the
salesman away.
3. Why is John Henry a legend?
a. John Henry invented the steam
drill.
b. John Henry built a railroad that
stretched from sea to sea.
c. John Henry was the first man in
history to beat a machine.
CFU How did I know what to underline? How did I know what to look for? How did I find the answer? How did I know my answer was correct? How did you know what to underline? How did you know what to look for? How did you find the answer? How did you know your answer was correct?
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6. 1. In your own words, what is a legend?
Closure
1. In your own words, what is a legend?
2. Comprehend the plot of the legend below.
3. What did you learn today about comprehending the plots of legends? Why is that important to you?
(pair-share)
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
Finn MacCool
1. Old Man Mazuma lived in the desert. 2. He wanted to bring water to the desert, so he could plant flowers. 3. “Let me think,” said Mazuma. 4. “I need the world’s greatest engineer1.” 5. Mazuma talked to lots of folks. 6. They all said the man he needed was Finn MacCool. 7. Finn MacCool was the most clever2 and powerful engineer in the land. 8. So, Old Man Mazuma asked Finn, and Finn accepted. 9. Finn carefully made his plans. 10. Finn and his men dug a huge ditch It was so big and deep, the Colorado river started to run through it. 12. Finn was so pleased with his work, he smiled and said, “What a Grand Canyon!” 13. And that’s what it’s called to this day words
1 someone whose job is to build things
2 smart
3 long, narrow hole that holds water
1. What challenge did Finn MacCool face?
a. He was being attacked by Old Man Mazuma’s
men.
b. He was dying of thirst in the desert.
c. He was asked to bring water to the desert.
2. How did Finn MacCool overcome his challenge?
a. Finn MacCool used his powers to make it rain.
b. Finn MacCool used his engineering skills to dig a
ditch.
c. Finn MacCool built a pipe to bring water from the
ocean.
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7. Comprehend plots of legends.
Independent Practice Name __________________________
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
St. Patrick of Erie
1. The Erie Canal1 was built by Irish people who had come to America. 2. After the canal was built, they had a big problem. 3. The water was filled with snakes! 4. A clever Irishman2 by the name of Joe had an idea. 6. Joe knew there were no snakes in Ireland. 7. St. Patrick, an Irish religious leader, had gotten rid of them years ago. 5. Joe wanted to try to get rid of them in the Erie Canal. 8. Joe determined that the snakes must be afraid of Irish dirt. 9. In those days, most Irishmen carried some dirt from their home country with them for good luck. 10. So, Joe gathered all the Irishmen’s dirt. 11. Then, he threw the dirt into the water. 12. And wouldn’t you know, all the snakes died! 13. To this day, there are no snakes on or near the Erie Canal. 14. Because he got rid of all the snakes, Joe was called the St. Patrick of Erie.
1 man made waterway dug to hold water words
2 man from Ireland
1. What challenge did Joe face?
a. Joe had to help dig the Erie
Canal.
b. Joe wanted to get rid of the
snakes in the Erie Canal.
c. Joe had to sail back to Ireland to
get Irish dirt.
2. How did Joe overcome his
challenge?
a. Joe went to see St. Patrick to
ask him how to get rid of the
snakes.
b. Joe threw dirt from Ireland in the
canal.
c. Joe went back to Ireland where
there were no snakes.
3. How did Joe become the legend
St. Patrick of Erie?
a. Joe and St. Patrick became best
friends.
b. Joe got rid of all the snakes in
the Erie Canal.
c. Joe was the first to sail from
Ireland by way of the Erie Canal.
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8. Comprehend plots of legends.
Periodic Review Name __________________________
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
Tony Beaver
1. Tony was the most famous logger1 in the South. 2. With one swing, Tony could cut down two trees—one on the back swing and one on the down swing! 3. When he got bored with that, he went to pulling the trees out by the roots.
4. When Tony was a boy, he learned all the important skills from his Pa – hunting, shooting, and choppin’. 5. Soon, Tony was growing up extra big, so Ma made him go out to be on his own. 6. Tony set out, taking his big strides2 that went from one mountaintop to the next. 7. He came to Turtle Cove just while Big Bill Simpson was holding a wood-chopping contest. 8. Big Bill was promising his lumbering3 business to anyone who could out chop him. 9. Tony had chopped down trees for his Paw, but never figured how fast he could chop. 10. Tony would try to out chop Big Bill. 11. On
the ready signal, Tony brought his ax down so hard that it just broke off that big hickory tree as if it were a
matchstick. 12. With one chop, Tony was given Big Bill’s lumbering business. 13. He started it on the
Eel River words
1 one who’s job is to cut down trees steps cutting down trees to sell or make things
1. What challenge did Tony Beaver
face?
a. He had to chop faster than Big
Bill Simpson.
b. He didn’t hunt, shoot, or chop
very well.
c. He was lost in Turtle Cove.
2. How did Tony overcome his
challenge?
a. He entered a wood cutting
contest.
b. He broke off a hickory tree with
one chop.
c. He showed Big Bill what a great
hunter he was.
3. Why is Tony Beaver a legend?
a. Tony Beaver had amazing
logging skills.
b. Tony Beaver could hunt better
than any man in the South.
c. Tony Beaver had big strides that
reached from mountaintop to
mountaintop.
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9. Comprehend plots of legends.
Periodic Review Name __________________________
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
Paul Bunyan Tames1 the Whistling River
Adapted from the retelling by S. E. Schlosser
1. Paul Bunyan was the biggest, strongest man that ever lived. 2. When he was born, it took five giant storks to deliver him to his parents. 3. He grew so fast that after one week, he had to wear his father's clothes. 4. One day, Paul Bunyan was sitting on a hill by the Whistling River. 5. The Whistling River would let out a whistle twice a day that could be heard for over six hundred miles. 6. Suddenly, the river spat four hundred gallons of muddy water onto Paul’s beard.
7. Paul Bunyan was mad! 8. He decided to tame the river by pulling out all its kinks2. 9. He began by taking a short walk up to the North Pole. 10. He caught two blizzards Paul Bunyan brought the blizzards back and put one
blizzard on each side of the river. 12. By morning, the river was frozen solid! 13. Paul wrapped a chain
around the frozen river. 14. Paul tied the chain to Babe the Blue Ox. 15. Together, they gave it a yank.
16. They dragged it until it was straight. 17. Once straight, the Whistling River lost its loud whistle.
18. It never bothered anybody ever again words
1 prevents something from causing trouble bend in something heavy snow storm Image courtesy of:
1. What challenge did Paul Bunyan
face?
a. Paul Bunyan was spit on by the
Whistling River.
b. Paul Bunyan was drowning in
the Whistling River.
c. Paul Bunyan was caught in a
blizzard in the North Pole.
2. How did Paul Bunyan overcome
his challenge?
a. Paul Bunyan tied the river in
knots.
b. Paul Bunyan took a short walk
up to the North Pole.
c. Paul Bunyan froze the river, then
pulled it straight.
3. Why is Paul Bunyan a legend?
a. Paul Bunyan was big and
strong.
b. Paul Bunyan could make rivers
straight.
c. Paul Bunyan had a blue ox
named Babe.
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10. Davy Crockett and Big Eater of the Forest
Periodic Review Name __________________________
A legend is a folktale about an extraordinary person who is seen as a hero.
Comprehend plots of legends.
Step #1: Read the question carefully and underline what is being asked.
Step #2: Read the legend to find the answer to the question.
a. Underline the answer in the text.
Step #3: Circle the correct answer to show you comprehend the plot.
Davy Crockett and Big Eater of the Forest
1. Davy Crockett was born on the mountaintop of Tennessee. 2. A rugged frontiersman1: he was raised in the woods and knew every tree. 3. Most say he was a man that didn’t have any fear2. 4. As the legend goes, he once killed him a bear when he was only three!
5. One day, Davy Crockett was searching for food. 6. He poked his head into a bush. 7. He saw two big, yellow eyes staring at him. 8. Davy said, “Why, hello there. 9. My name’s Davy Crockett. 10. And I plan to eat you for dinner!” 11. Staring at Davy was Big Eater of the Forest. 12. This was the biggest panther3 ever seen. 13. The panther growled and shot white fire from his eyes! 14. So, Davy growled a growl so loud it made the stars fall from the sky. 15. Suddenly, the two began wrestling. 16. Davy held the panther down with one foot. 17. “The wild critters of the forest are
not safe with you. 18. Come home with me and I’ll teach you a thing or two.” 19. So Davy and Big Eater of
the Forest became friends. 20. The two of them spent their nights growling into the night. 21. If you’re
walking through the Tennessee woods late at night, you might hear them still words
1 one who settles on new land having a feeling of being afraid or worried
3 large, black, wild cat Image courtesy of:
1. What challenge did Davy
face?
a. He had no food.
b. He came face to face
with Big Eater of the
Forest.
c. He was lost in the forest.
2. How did Davy overcome his challenge?
a. He beat Big Eater of the Forest
and they became friends.
b. He spent his nights growling into
the night.
c. He wrestled and ate Big Eater of
the Forest.
3. Why is Davy Crockett a legend?
a. Davy Crockett can growl as
loud as a panther.
b. Davy Crockett could hunt any
type of animal.
c. Davy Crockett had no fear.
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